DRINKING WATER
Why Multi‑Commodity Utilities Need Smart Meter Data Management
Breaking down data silos allows multi-commodity utilities to improve operational efficiency and infrastructure visibility. By managing water and electric data on a shared platform, providers can detect leaks faster and support long-term conservation goals.
DRINKING WATER CASE STUDIES AND WHITE PAPERS
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![GettyImages-609955848_450_300]( "Not All AMI Systems Are Equal: 7 Features That Stand Out")
Not All AMI Systems Are Equal: 7 Features That Stand OutWhile every AMI system has specific advantages, the exact nature of those advantages depends heavily on the network itself and the technologies it leverages.
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![Maximum Ozone Transfer Efficiency Across Broad Range of Water Flow_PIX]( "Maximum Ozone Transfer Efficiency Across Broad Range Of Water Flow")
Maximum Ozone Transfer Efficiency Across Broad Range Of Water FlowThe design team for the intermediate ozone system at Buckingham Water Treatment Plant, Quebec, had limited space available for ozone contacting for the plant’s 1.3 – 7.4 MGD flow, so a standard fine bubble diffusion basin for ozone disinfection was not an option.
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![GettyImages-157282207_450_300]( "How Severn Trent Uses Smart Solutions To Combat Water Scarcity")
How Severn Trent Uses Smart Solutions To Combat Water ScarcitySevern Trent is reducing water loss and improving customer engagement with smart meters and advanced data analytics, achieving measurable results in leak detection, conservation, and operational efficiency.
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Water Quality Is Key To The Success Of Cardiff Bay Restoration Water quality has been a central theme in a redevelopment project that began with the creation of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation in 1987.
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![GettyImages-1132994802_450_300]( "6 Considerations When Preparing For Carbon Media Replacement")
6 Considerations When Preparing For Carbon Media ReplacementThis guide can help operators ensure seamless granular activated carbon (GAC) media changeouts, minimizing downtime and maintaining high water quality standards.
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Case Study: Seawater Desalination At Rabigh Refinery Saudi Aramco’s RABIGH Refinery in Saudi Arabia wanted to install facility for 10000 TPD Seawater Desalination for the industrial use. The facility was supposed to be a BOOT (Build Own Operate Transfer) basis. By Aquatech International Corporation
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![GettyImages-1166552405_450_300 (002)]( "Encapsulation Fittings: The Pipe Repair Solution You Didn't Know You Need")
Encapsulation Fittings: The Pipe Repair Solution You Didn't Know You NeedEncapsulation fittings offer a solution to pipe repairs involving difficult-to-access lines, critical lines to users such as hospitals, intercity areas, or major traffic arteries.
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![0125-Sensus]( "Modern Solutions For Aging Water Systems: AMI And Beyond")
Modern Solutions For Aging Water Systems: AMI And BeyondLessons from two communities on the benefits of advanced metering infrastructure.
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![For Pierre, South Dakota]( "For Pierre, South Dakota, ALPHA's Single-Bolt Install Is the 'Way to Go'")
For Pierre, South Dakota, ALPHA's Single-Bolt Install Is the 'Way to Go'Add Pierre, South Dakota, to the rapidly growing list of early adopters of AMERICAN Flow Control’s valves and hydrants with ALPHA restrained joint ends. Introduced last year, ALPHA saves labor, time and money.
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How To Earn Straight 'A's For Water Accountability
Specific needs for data accountability can vary widely across diverse market applications — industrial, municipal, agricultural, etc. Yet the underlying goal of each application is to gain the best insights for informed decision-making at the best overall value between capital expense and operating expense. Water monitoring Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offers new ways to achieve exactly that.
DRINKING WATER APPLICATION NOTES
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The Importance Of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) In The Water Analysis Sector3/6/2026
A high standard of living involves a high demand for water and, at the same time, causes much greater pollution of this essential element for life. The resultant interference in the natural cycle can often overwhelm natural processes of recovery, so that there is a build-up of anthropogenous additives such as pesticides, effluents and garbage, which contaminate drinking water supplies.
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Water Determination In Liquefied Petroleum Gas Using GC BID And Ionic Liquid Column Watercol™6/28/2018
Water in petrochemical feedstocks can cause problems for processors. Freezing of pipe lines and valves and poisoning of expensive catalysts are just a few examples.
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Automatic Rinse Tank Controls10/29/2021
Proper rinsing is one of the most important steps in quality manufacturing or metal finishing. Plenty of low cost, good quality water for rinsing has been available in the past, so rinse water conservation has been largely ignored.
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Veterinary Drug Residue Analysis Using The AutoMate-Q40: An Automated Solution To QuEChERS10/1/2014
QuEChERS is a Quick-Easy-Cheap-Effective-Rugged-Safe extraction method that has been developed for the determination of pesticide residues in agricultural commodities.
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Improved Efficiencies In TOC Wastewater Analysis For Standard Method 5310B And EPA Method 41510/16/2014Total organic carbon (TOC) measurement is of vital importance to the operation of water treatment due to organic compounds comprising a large group of water pollutants. TOC has been around for many years, and although it is a relatively simple analysis in theory, operational efficiency is paramount.
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Hemodialysis Patient Health10/29/2021
Controlling dialysate quality is critically important to hemodialysis patient health. Complications as minor as nausea and fatigue or as severe as metabolic acidosis and sepsis can result if dialysate composition is incorrect. All the factors that ultimately affect dialysate composition must therefore be carefully monitored and controlled: proper proportioning and mixing of concentrates with water; the quality of water mixed with concentrates to form dialysate; and the quality of water used in the reprocessing of hemodialyzers, system maintenance and disinfection.
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Determination Of Polar Pesticide Residues In Food Of Plant Origin, By And Automate QuPPe Solution9/29/2014
The QuEChERS (Quick-Easy-Cheap-Effective-Rugged-Safe) sample extraction method was developed for the determination of pesticide residues in agricultural commodities.
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Municipal Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring9/24/2020
We arm municipalities with actionable data necessary to make informed decisions about water quality in their communities
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Optimizing Brine Flow In A Geothermal Power Plant1/27/2022
Different flow meter technologies were used in this geothermal power plant to monitor and measure brine. However, these traditional technologies failed. That’s where Panametrics PT900 Portable Ultrasonic Flowmeter was able to help.
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(E)-2-Nonenal In Beer4/5/2015
Numerous compounds contribute to changes in beer flavor as it becomes stale. One of these compounds, (E)-2-nonenal, has been investigated as a major source of the papery/cardboard flavor that develops in aged beer.
DRINKING WATER PRODUCTS
The MD50 Chlorine LR/HR Colorimeter combines a simple user interface with advanced optics to deliver the accurate and reliable results municipal and industrial users require - and packs a lot of features into a rugged, hand-held instrument.
The PanaFlow gas meter system consists of two models— the one-path PanaFlow Z1G and the two-path PanaFlow Z2G. Both meters offer a high-performance, yet affordable solution for a variety of gas flow applications.
ResinTech AGC-40 CA/XA are WQA Gold Seal certified, semi-moist, dustfree activated carbon media — pH buffered for rapid startup and clean, reliable operation.
Introducing the NP6000sc, the latest evolution in Hach® Phosphate Analyzers. As the next evolution in nutrient monitoring, combining the trusted reliability of Phosphax with cutting-edge innovations to address your biggest challenges.
Capital Controls Series WM4000 gas feeders are wall cabinet mounted vacuum operated and designed to conveniently house a combination of gas feed equipment. The fibreglass cabinets enclose the gas flow control components.
In an era where every drop of water counts, LeakZon is proud to announce the launch of WEAD – the most advanced Water Loss Management (WLM) platform on the market. This groundbreaking AI-powered solution is set to transform how utilities, municipalities, and multifamily property owners manage their water distribution networks.
LATEST INSIGHTS ON DRINKING WATER
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![pregnant_water-Getty-2207189112]( "Drinking Water Contaminated With 'Forever Chemicals' During Pregnancy Linked To An Increased Risk Of Childhood Asthma")
While most of us are routinely exposed to low levels of PFAS, some communities are exposed to far higher levels from nearby pollution sources. A new study shows that in one of these at-risk communities, children were more likely to develop asthma if their mothers were exposed to very high PFAS levels during pregnancy.
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![wastewater ecological damage-GettyImages-2231956262]( "The Pragmatic Shift In Source Water Protection: Moving From Symptom Management To Root-Cause Accountability")
A shift in how we approach source water protection is long overdue. Currently, we are trapped in a cycle of escalating costs, forced to treat symptoms like algae and invasive weeds expediently with chemicals while the underlying risk in the reservoir compounds. True risk management requires breaking this cycle. -
![River water pollution, Ecological-GettyImages-1215336784]( "The AWWA Said $2.4 Trillion. It Missed The Compound Interest.")
Einstein once said of compound interest, "He who understands it, earns it. He who doesn't, pays it." The same logic of compounding applies to the organic sediment accumulating on the floor of your drinking water reservoir. The longer you wait to address it, the more exponentially expensive it becomes to fix. -
![snowystream-Getty-521971897]( "Winter's Alarmingly Low Snowpack Offers A Glimpse Of The Changing Rhythm Of Water In The Western U.S.")
The April 1 snowpack measurement has long been the single most important number in western water management, considered a strong proxy for how much water the mountains are holding in reserve. But in 2026, that savings account has been woefully deficient. -
![ColoradoRiverDam_Getty-1280300802]( "Why Colorado River Negotiations Stalled, And How They Could Resume With The Possibility Of Agreement")
Why Colorado River Negotiations Stalled, And How They Could Resume With The Possibility Of AgreementThe five most common sources of conflict between people are values, data, relationships, interests, and structure. The current Colorado River negotiations include all five. -
![Water droplets, PFAS, Forever chemical water contamination-GettyImages-2173433890]( "Designing Resilient PFAS Treatment Strategies For Water Agencies")
Water agencies across the U.S. are facing a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that poses a conundrum: Should they take a cautious or aggressive approach to treating PFAS contamination in their water system?
DRINKING WATER VIDEOS
Discover how specialized restrained joints facilitate efficient horizontal directional drilling and bridge piping through a simplified, tool-free assembly process that ensures long-term reliability in challenging environments.
The Western Governors' Drought Forum webinar “Once Marginal, Now Crucial: The Growing Demand for Re-used, Produced, and Brackish Water” explores the technological and regulatory obstacles to utilizing re-used, produced, and brackish water.
ABOUT DRINKING WATER
In most developed countries, drinking water is regulated to ensure that it meets drinking water quality standards. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers these standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Drinking water considerations can be divided into three core areas of concern:
- Source water for a community’s drinking water supply
- Drinking water treatment of source water
- Distribution of treated drinking water to consumers
Drinking Water Sources
Source water access is imperative to human survival. Sources may include groundwater from aquifers, surface water from rivers and streams and seawater through a desalination process. Direct or indirect water reuse is also growing in popularity in communities with limited access to sources of traditional surface or groundwater.
Source water scarcity is a growing concern as populations grow and move to warmer, less aqueous climates; climatic changes take place and industrial and agricultural processes compete with the public’s need for water. The scarcity of water supply and water conservation are major focuses of the American Water Works Association.
Drinking Water Treatment
Drinking Water Treatment involves the removal of pathogens and other contaminants from source water in order to make it safe for humans to consume. Treatment of public drinking water is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. Common examples of contaminants that need to be treated and removed from water before it is considered potable are microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and radionuclides.
There are a variety of technologies and processes that can be used for contaminant removal and the removal of pathogens to decontaminate or treat water in a drinking water treatment plant before the clean water is pumped into the water distribution system for consumption.
The first stage in treating drinking water is often called pretreatment and involves screens to remove large debris and objects from the water supply. Aeration can also be used in the pretreatment phase. By mixing air and water, unwanted gases and minerals are removed and the water improves in color, taste and odor.
The second stage in the drinking water treatment process involves coagulation and flocculation. A coagulating agent is added to the water which causes suspended particles to stick together into clumps of material called floc. In sedimentation basins, the heavier floc separates from the water supply and sinks to form sludge, allowing the less turbid water to continue through the process.
During the filtration stage, smaller particles not removed by flocculation are removed from the treated water by running the water through a series of filters. Filter media can include sand, granulated carbon or manufactured membranes. Filtration using reverse osmosis membranes is a critical component of removing salt particles where desalination is being used to treat brackish water or seawater into drinking water.
Following filtration, the water is disinfected to kill or disable any microbes or viruses that could make the consumer sick. The most traditional disinfection method for treating drinking water uses chlorine or chloramines. However, new drinking water disinfection methods are constantly coming to market. Two disinfection methods that have been gaining traction use ozone and ultra-violet (UV) light to disinfect the water supply.
Drinking Water Distribution
Drinking water distribution involves the management of flow of the treated water to the consumer. By some estimates, up to 30% of treated water fails to reach the consumer. This water, often called non-revenue water, escapes from the distribution system through leaks in pipelines and joints, and in extreme cases through water main breaks.
A public water authority manages drinking water distribution through a network of pipes, pumps and valves and monitors that flow using flow, level and pressure measurement sensors and equipment.
Water meters and metering systems such as automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) allows a water utility to assess a consumer’s water use and charge them for the correct amount of water they have consumed.